774 
THE TROPICAL AGRICUJiCURIST. [May 1, 1902. 
maybe established over a wide area of country, extend- 
iu", if possible, south to Tanamalvila and across to the 
northern limit of the Yala Sanctuary. This would 
provide at least a measure of protection to almost 
the whole of the Ova Province. With a careful selection 
of watchers and some supervision from the Honoraiy 
Secretary of the Hapuiale branch there is no reason 
why the Game Centres of Uva should not receive 
a large measure of protfction by these means. The 
subject of Branch Societies was again brought up 
at a general meeting held on May 8;h 1901 and the 
distribution of game watchers was discussed. It was 
eventually resolved that the latter should be post 
poned until Branch Societies had been formed. 
Onthel7thOctober, 1901, the Hon. Secretary of Hapu- 
txle Branch introduced a resolution against the rule 
prohibiting fall shooting of game over 4,000 feet 
This resolution was eventually withdrawn in favor 
of an amendment to the effect that it should be 
permissible to stalk sambur with the rifle where 
legistered pack^ are limited and at any elevation. 
,It was also resolved at the same time that red deer 
be removed from the list of protected game. A 
copy of the above resolution was forwarded to Gov- 
ernment by the Hon. Secretary with the expression 
of a hope that they would be favourably considered. 
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary replied as follows : — 
Colonial Secretary's Office, 
Colombo, November 20th, IdOl. 
gir — With reference to your lettsr of ti e 30th Octo- 
ber, 1901, regarding the shooting of sambur and deer 
in the Hill Districts above 4,0j0 feet, I am directed 
by His Excellency the Uovernor to explain to you that 
the '' rule " referred to by you is enforced solely by 
an instruction to the Government Agents to refiain 
from issuing licenses to shoot game in any district 
above the elevation referred to. 
2. It would be impossible to grant a license in 
respect of any special class of " game." — I am, sir 
your obedient" servant. 
(Signed), A. G. Clayton, for Ool. Secy. 
The Honorary Sec, The Game Protection Society. 
r.RANCH SOCIKTIES. 
I regret being unable to report any addition to 
the number of these during the past year but I 
do not abandon all hope on this point. Mr. 
V. K. Shand, the eteigetic Honorary Secretary of 
the Nawalapitiya Brand), sends me the names of 
16 members who have paid their subscriptions for 
1902 and writes hopefully of future support; — 
"On information received from our local watcher 
on 31st Oclobtr last 1 wrote to the Government 
Agent, Kandy, that an elk had been killed at 
Padupola for a former Aratciiclii of that place. 
"The Katemahatmaya of the district was in- 
structed to prosecute and the man was fined li25, 
which seems little enough as he killed the elk in the 
close season. The Branch Association or Society 
started here has brought in a lot of new members. 
There were 17 on niy old list and there are now 
ovwr 40 on the new one. 
P. R. Shand." 
Not having received any financial report for 
1901, I am unable to give any information 
as to what work has been done. In Ilaputale 
I cannot help feeling that there is a slightly re- 
viving interest being thewn in the matter of game 
protection, and it is to be hoped that the Branch 
Socieiy ihire will be able to show a good record 
ot woik done this time next year. There is ample 
scope for hearty and undivided efforts. 
Since writing the above, I have received from 
Mr P K Shand a list of members for 1901 and 
a Htatemcnt of expenditure for that year. 
Mr Shani) propo.ses handing over to the Parent 
Si>ciety 25 per cent of his total subscriptions and 
retaining the balance (after providing for la't 
year's expenses) as a nucleus for furtlier needs 
*n(l requirements. This arrangement, I tliink 
would work quite satisfactorily, provided ,tlie 
estimate of requirements were sent in to the 
Parent Society in time for the annual meeting in 
Maich or April. 
It would I think, be only right and proper that 
the Committee of the Parent Society should pass 
the estimate and sanction the expenditure. 
SanctuaeiRS.— During 1901 the Yala Game 
Sanctuary was visited officially by Mr Hosburgli the 
Assistant Government- Agent at Hambantota and 
his very able and exhaustive report was doubtless 
read by all members of the Society. There are 
certain paragraphs in that report — viz. : 24, 25, 28 
— which were suggested by Mr. Horsburgh and 
which were subsequently approved of by Hi.i Ex- 
cellency the Governor. The two former recom- 
mended that houses be provided for the three 
newly-appointed watchers and the clearing of one 
of the boundaries. The latter suggested that the 
country adjacent to Kirindi, Tissa and Palutupane 
be closed to all non-resident sportsmen. This is a 
concession that might well form a precedent in the 
case of other tracts of game country in the island. 
Through the couitesy of the Hon. Mr Fowler I 
have recently learned that an efficient water sup- 
ply has been provided for within the sanctuary and 
a proper system of patrolling has been estab- 
lished. Game is reported as very plentiful, tame 
and in good condition. I am also indebted to 
Mr. H. K. Spence, the Assistant Conservator of 
Forests, Nortli-Western-Proviuce, for the follow- 
ing information with regard to the proposed new 
Sanctuary in the Pitttalam District of the North- 
Western-Province. It will consist of all the 
country lying north of the Kaluoya.sorae 112,000 
acres in extent. It will probably be placed under 
the charge of the Assistant Conservator of Forests 
and foirr watchers who will be paid by Govern- 
ment. All tiie reports I have received from the 
Yala Sanctuary clearly set forth the benefils deriv- 
able from these protected areas and the Society 
should now approach Government with a view to 
obtaining sanction to form sanctuaries of its own. 
Complaints have reached me from Trinconialee 
from time to time of a vast amount of poaching 
and game slaughter in that and adjourning dis- 
tricts both in and out ot season, but unfortunately, 
in spite of the quantity of game killed by the 
officers ot His Majesty's services in that neighbour- 
hood, the C G P Society receives no pecuniary 
support from that quarter, 
DONATIOSS. 
I am glad to be able to report the receipt of two 
handsome donations to the Society during the past 
12 months : one of £10 from that well-known sport*- 
iiian and member of this Society, Mr HA Oliver- 
son ; and one of RlOO from Sir Edward Kinalian, 
who has recently been on a shooting trip to the 
island. Three others of small amounts have been 
received from Messrs. Jowitt, F K Findlay and H 
Storey. These donations are encouraging to an 
Ilony. Seceretary, and I cannot too heartily express 
the thanks of the Society for them, nor can I too 
emphatically commend them to the notice of others. 
Before closing this paper, I feel it to be my duty as 
Hony. Secretary to enter a protest on behalf of the 
Seciety against the practice of allowing inexperien- 
ced sportsmen to destroy elephants that may prove 
themselves troublesome witliiu the scockade of a 
K-taal, and the recent instance at Kurunegala eni- 
